Charlotte of Albret

Charlotte of Albret (1480-11 March 1514) was the sister of King John III of Navarre and the wife of Cesare Borgia. She married Borgia in 1499 as a means of strengthening France's alliance with the Papal States, and she was renowned for her beauty and wealth. She served as regent of Valentinois for her daughter, Louise Borgia, from Cesare Borgia's death at the Siege of Viana in 1507 until her own death in 1514.

Biography
Charlotte of Albret was born in France in 1480, the daughter of Alain I of Albret, the great-great-granddaughter of Charles d'Albret, and the sister of John III of Navarre. She was originally a lady-in-waiting to Queen Joan of France, and the Queen offered her as a bride to Cesare Borgia when he travelled to France in 1499. They fell in love at a dance, and Cesare took her virginity by the fireplace that same night. On 10 May 1499, the two of them married, strengthening Borgia's alliance to the Kingdom of France. Shortly after the wedding, Cesare Borgia accompanied King Louis XII of France on his invasion of Milan during the Italian War of 1499-1504. They had one daughter, Louise Borgia, who married Louis de la Tremoille in 1517. She became Duchess of Valentinois after her husband was created Duke, and she served as regent to her daughter from Cesare's death at the Siege of Viana in 1507 until her own death in 1514.